May 5, 2009

The Philippines government Monday (May 4) lifted a ban on pork imports from Mexico and the United States, saying there was no threat of H1N1 being transmitted from animals to humans.

 

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the move was meant to soften the impact of the H1N1 alert on the hog industry, noting that pork prices had dropped steadily during the scare.

 

"I have directed the Bureau of Animal Industry to lift the temporary suspension order on meat products," Yap said.

 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who next week will chair a meeting in Bangkok of health ministers from Southeast Asia, had approved the move.

 

The Philippines hasn't reported any cases of H1N1 among its millions of citizens living abroad, including in the United States and in Mexico.

 

It has, however, advised against travelling to Mexico and called on its tens of thousands of workers in Hong Kong to take extra precautions after the first confirmed case was reported there.